Displaying items by tag: Strategy

Brazil: Votorantim Cimentos recorded a 37% year-on-year rise in its adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$1.10bn in 2021. Its sales rose by 33% to US$4.71bn, while its profit more than tripled to US$2.1bn. The group’s sales grew in all of its regions. Its cement volumes totalled 37.2Mt, up by 15% from 2020 levels. Its capital expenditure (CAPEX) investments grew by 30% year-on-year to US$317m. It commissioned a new production line at its Pecém grinding plant in Brazil and continued to work on an upgrade to Cementos Artigas’ Sayago grinding plant in Uruguay, scheduled for completion in 2022. It also completed its acquisition of Spain-based Cementos Balboa.

Cement operations, logistics and adjacent businesses director Osvaldo Ayres Filho, who was serving as group CFO during 2021, said “We had a record financial performance in 2021, despite the challenging environment due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic and global inflationary pressure.” He added that the producer also made ‘significant strategic moves.’

US: Holcim has announced the rebranding of its US-based LafargeHolcim US subsidiary to Holcim US. The name change is the first in any region since parent company LafargeHolcim became Holcim in July 2021. The producer says that this regional rebrand marks a ‘significant milestone’ towards establishing a shared purpose and vision across its global operations.

Holcim will continue to work towards becoming the global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions through building progress for people and the planet.

US: The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) has approved the use of Portland limestone cement (PLC) in its projects. The California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) says that the move has the potential to eliminate 25,500t/yr of CO₂ emissions.

The CNCA plans to achieve cement and concrete carbon neutrality by 2045 through three priority actions. These are investment in promising and critical long-term technologies (crucially carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies), increased alternative fuel (AF) substitution and the acceptance of PLC for CalTrans projects. Thus, the latest CalTrans decision marks the establishment of one pillar of the CNCA’s ambitious plan for net zero.

Mexico: Cemex has published its 2021 Integrated Report. Under the report’s Climate Action section, Cemex recorded a 4.7% year-on-year decrease in its CO₂ emissions per tonne of cementitious material. Alternative fuel (AF) substitution rose to 29%, while its products’ average clinker factor fell to 75%. It was the first company to complete a global roll-out of its reduced-CO₂ cement and concrete range (Vertua). It established Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)-verified well below 2°C 2030 climate action goals and joined the UN’s Race to Zero and the Business Ambition for 1.5°C coalition. It also became a founding member of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition for zero-carbon economic development.

The year also brought major Sustainability and Circular Economy milestones, including managing 57 times the volume of waste it sent to landfill, positively impacting 25m lives through its Social Impact Strategy and processing 61% of global sales through its Cemex Go digital sales platform. For the second consecutive year, its Net Promotor Score was 68, ‘substantially above’ the construction and engineering industry average.

France: Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies recorded sales of Euro2.38m in 2021, more than four times its 2020 figure of Euro504m. The company’s losses before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (LBITDA) declined by 27% to Euro5.23m from Euro4.13m, while its net loss fell by 9.1% to Euro5.56m from Euro6.12m.

The producer confirmed its global sales target of Euro130m and EBITDA margin target of 40% by 2026, by which time it expects to have achieved sales of 550,000t/yr of its clinker-free cement in France. This would correspond to 3% of the domestic cement market. By 2026, it aims to operate four plants abroad.

World: Market Research Future has forecast a 15% composite annual growth rate (CAGR) in global green cement demand between 2018 and 2023, where green cement is defined as fly ash cement, slag cement, geopolymer cement and other cements produced using alternative raw materials. Market Research Future predicts that fly ash cement’s global growth will be the sharpest due to its abundant availability. Its report concluded that cement sector strategies in response to the growth would include mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions.

Greece: Titan Cement recorded Euro1.71bn in net sales in 2021, up by 6.7% year-on-year from Euro1.61bn in 2020. The company attributed the boost to higher demand and ‘supportive pricing’ in all of its regions. Cement sales volumes were 18.3Mt, up by 7% year-on-year from 17.1Mt. Its earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) dropped by 4.6% to Euro272m from Euro286m, due to an ‘unprecedented’ second-half costs increase. The group’s net profit was Euro89.6m, compared to Euro1.1m in 2020. During the year, Titan Cement increased the digitisation of its cement production and continued its on-going share buyback programme. Its Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions declined by 4% year-on-year, in line with its 2030 target trajectory.

Titan Cement said “Having already achieved the 2025 targets for energy efficiency and zero waste-to-landfill certification, the group’s attention is now focused on empowering business ecosystems to incorporate sustainability considerations in their decision making. To ensure that key suppliers meet the group’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, Titan Cement developed a sustainable supply chain roadmap and published the first Titan Group Procurement Policy.” In the coming year, the group plans to ‘continue to harness the advantages offered by decarbonisation, digital transformation and business model innovation to benefit our customers, employees, suppliers and communities, aspiring to deliver to society carbon-neutral concrete by 2050.’

France: Lafarge France has announced a total planned investment of Euro46m in upgrades to its 1.6Mt/yr Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, Mayenne, cement plant and its 1.2Mt/yr La Malle, Bouches-du-Rhone, cement plant. The Holcim subsidiary will invest Euro40m to convert the Saint-Pierre-la-Cour plant to low carbon cement production. Meanwhile, it will invest Euro6m in the La Malle plant’s conversion to ultra-low carbon cement production. The L’Usine Nouvelle newspaper has reported that the transitions will complement the company’s strategy of over 25% EcoPact reduced-CO₂ ready-mix concrete sales by 2025.

New Zealand: Holcim Australia and New Zealand plans to establish a new low carbon cement import and distribution facility next to its existing cement terminal at Ports of Auckland. The company says that the facility will have the capacity to replace 100,000t/yr of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) used in New Zealand. In 2021, the country consumed 1.6Mt of cement, generating 1.3Mt of CO₂ emissions.

CEO George Agriogiannis said “I’m pleased Holcim Australia and New Zealand is progressing to the building phase of a facility that will import and distribute low carbon cement replacement products. Once operational, the site will enable the reduction of carbon emissions via a cement replacement which can be used for applications such as infrastructure, commercial and residential projects.” He concluded “This initiative is a positive step toward the New Zealand government’s Zero Carbon ambitions and Holcim’s Net Zero climate pledge.”

Thailand: Siam Cement Group (SCG) says that it is reviewing its planned US$2.4bn investment programme for 2022 due to the changing conditions it faces following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ensuing cost rises. The Bangkok Post newspaper has reported that the company has recorded a rise in raw materials and energy costs across its businesses.

President and chief executive officer Roongrote Rangsiyopash said "We will delay some new investment projects, especially greenfield investments, and consider increasing more investments under merger and acquisition plans to avoid possible impact on our long-term financial management." Rangsiyopash added "Prices of cement and building materials will also gradually increase."